In partnership, the City of Colorado Springs and Exponential Impact will adapt and use the Survive and Thrive framework to support local small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19 in low to middle income neighborhoods.
The Survive and Thrive 2.0 program inextricably links mentoring and access to tools and resources with financial support to provide immediate relief and support long-term recovery. This collaboration will fund between 15-25 businesses with a grant award of up to $20,000, and intensive support programming over two months.
Applications will open for the Survive and Thrive 2.0 program on February 15 and will be accepted through February 28. Full eligibility details and additional application information are available on Exponential Impact’s website: exponentialimpact.com.
“This is an important collaboration to offer a more curated approach to small business needs during this time of crisis and a strong show of support for our local economy by local institutions” said Natasha Main, Executive Director of Exponential Impact. “Survive and Thrive 2.0 is a niche program intended to deeply support a few organizations for maximum impact.”
“We are all anxious for the end of this pandemic, and a return to normalcy, but it’s important to recognize that there are businesses that are still feeling the negative effects of this crisis, and it’s invaluable to have programs like Survive and Thrive ready to provide resources and walk alongside them through their recovery,” said Mayor John Suthers.
The goals of Survive and Thrive 2.0 are the continuation of new micro businesses, pivoting business models to prevent permanent job loss, and increase cohesion in the business community. The Solid Rock Community Development Corporation is a core collaborator in the program to ensure sustainable connections and long-lasting support for Southeast residents. The City is financially supporting this endeavor through Federal CARES Act dollars.
“The objective is to make the entire community stronger by growing our existing business community in SE Colorado Springs,” said Pastor Ben Anderson, Executive Director of SRCDC.